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Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes

History

Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863

Name: Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Author: Miles, Henry Downes

Miles, Henry Downes

Boxing

November, 1807. Notwithstanding Gregson was so severely beaten by Gully
in the last month, he still felt some confidence, that in the event of
another battle he should prove victorious. His friends gave him all
encouragement, and he sent Gully the following challenge, which was
forwarded to Norwich, where he was then staying:—

  “Mr. GULLY,—It is the wish of myself and friends that I should try
  my fortune with you in another battle, for £200 a-side. If you are
  inclined to give me the opportunity, I will thank you to say so, and
  also to name the time when it will be convenient to meet, to put
  down stakes, and arrange particulars.

                                                         “R. GREGSON.”

To this Gully immediately returned the following answer:—

  “Mr. GREGSON,—I accept your challenge, but wish you would make the
  match for £250 instead of £200 a-side. I shall not delay a moment in
  returning to town to make the necessary arrangements as to time,
  place, etc.

                                                         “JOHN GULLY.”

As soon as Gully came to town, the heroes met, and the following
agreement was entered into, which we give as a specimen of how they
managed these matters some “sixty years since:”—

                                         “LONDON, _December 22, 1807_.

  “Major Morgan, on the part of Gregson, and Mr. Jackson, on the part
  of Gully, agree to deposit 50 guineas each this day, and a further
  deposit of 50 guineas on the 1st of March, 1808, or forfeit the
  first 50 guineas; and on the Monday following the Craven meeting,
  the remainder of the stakes to be made good by the contracting
  parties, or the 100 guineas to be also forfeited; and that the Hon.
  Berkeley Craven be requested to hold the stakes on the day of
  battle.

                       “CONDITIONS OF THE BATTLE.

  “1st.—The battle to take place on the Tuesday following the first
  Spring Meeting, between the hours of ten and twelve, a.m.

  “2nd.—To fight in a roped square of forty feet.

  “3rd.—Neither to fall without a knock-down blow, subject to the
  decision of the umpires.

  “4th.—Three umpires to be chosen upon the ground, viz., two, and one
  in reference.

                                        “Signed       “CHARLES MORGAN,
                                                      “JOHN JACKSON.”

Gregson went immediately into training under Mendoza, at the Load of
Hay, on the Hampstead Road.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.